St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-01-30
THE LAWYERS OPPOSED.
A Unanimous Sentiment against the
Police C0nnMissi0a EiiI.

- -
Police COMMUNION ssiiI.
The police commission Is quite likely to
be defeated. Tie bill provides that four
com missioners shall be appointed by the
district court judges, and shall be ''non-
partisan" and unpaid for their Iabors. The
id ca is of course to make the mayor mere
figure head. and by preventing popular
vote to keep the city government in the
hands of set of men who shall be ap-
pointed, not elected. Strong disapproval of
the bill is heard on all sides. but the loudest
protests come from members of
the bar, who object to addi-
tional burdens being placed upon
the shoulders of the judges of the district
court, and fear that the election of the jul
dietary will become heated political fight
instead Of a nonpartiSan selection. The
following expressions of opinion gathered
yesterday are from prominent at
torneys, Republicans in each instance. and
can be taken as voicing the sentiment of the
entire bar:
E. NJ. Johnson-No, sir. do not believe in
police commission as provided for in the
board of trade bill, but believe in commits
sion. Why? Because think that by secur-
ing non partizan police commissioners the
police force can be run like the fire de-
partlnent is n oY,s uninfuenced by pol
should be composed of two Democrats and
two Republicans, with the mayor as an ex-
officio member. Let the first commissioners
be appointed by the governor, and then let
the terms of one Democratic and one Repub-
lican commissioner eXpire.eVery two years,
their places TO be filed by men elected in
stead of appointed. The board of trade bill
is out of the question. l think that Mime
apolis if fitted to govern itself without calling
upon the judges of its court to appoint police
oually divided upon the question Of appoint
ment by the judges, and you will find how
few outside of that small majority are in
favor Of such q bill.
EJudge Bailey, of the municipal COURT
believe in commission if we can get the
Droper men in it. What we need in our city
government are good, clean business men.
For this reason l think the off ce of police
commissioners should be salared one. I
should think the judges of the district court
would naturally shrink from appointing the
commissioners. and it should not be asked of
them.
County Attorney Davis-T am in favor of a
police commission, l think, but do not ap-
nroye of the board of trade bill. I most en-
phatically do not think the judges should be
required to appoint the commissioners. II
would be an imposition upon men who are
already slnothered with work; besides the
effect would be to make the election of a
iudge partisan officer, and this should be
Enormously avoided. am in favor, besides,
of making the office elective and paying fair
salaries.
Assistant Coundy Attorney Jamison-I sup
pose if Ames was not mayor that no one
would have thought of asking for commits
sion. ] don't know much about the question,
end don't understand that there is any par
tieular necessity for a commission. The
comm issioners should not be appointed by
the judges at any rate
A. B. Jackson-I take only the interest of
citizen in politics. and hardly think am
aratified TO give an intelligent opinion as to
Che ACCESSIBILITY of q police commits sion.
! suppose the suggestion arrives because the
nresent mayor is not popular with certain